Chris Kyle, who died on Saturday, Feb. 2, after being shot at a Texas gun range, was a divisive figure. He was a former Navy SEAL and a military hero with a slew of medals including two Silver Stars, having served five back-to-back tours in Iraq as a sniper. He had 160 confirmed kills, the highest count in U.S. military history. But there were those who were made uncomfortable by his lethal proficiency.

And at the time of his death, he was being sued by former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura for remarks in his best-selling book, American Sniper.

One thing nobody ever doubted, however, was his bravery. His kill count was so high because he often served with other branches of the military, especially the Marines. According to early reports, he was killed, along with another man, by a veteran while all three were on a recreational shooting trip. Unconfirmed reports suggested Kyle had taken his alleged killer, Eddie Ray Routh, on the outing to help alleviate Routh’s posttraumatic stress disorder.

In an interview with TIME in January 2012, Kyle, 38, said he did not regret shooting any of the people he had killed, including his first long-range hit, a woman who had a grenade in one hand and a toddler in the other. He did note, however, that he could not bring himself to kill a small boy who picked up a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, even though the rules of engagement allowed it.

During the interview, Kyle was polite, affable and not easily ruffled. It was clear, however, that he was not a man to be messed with. In person, he had both the cuddliness and latent aggression of a bear. “I really don’t care what people think of me. I’ve got my family. I’ve got my friends. Yes, I have been trained to be a little more aggressive if I need to be, but I don’t go around thumping people,” he said.

Kyle, who leaves a wife and two kids, joked during that interview that he only usually got hurt at home. “My wife jokes that I hang up my cape when I get home,” he said. “I’d stub my toe or break my toe at home but at work was fine.”

Kyle proudly identified himself as a Crusader and was getting pride in killings as many as evils (Muslims) in Iraq for the cause of his faith. Does, the Iraq war was a hidden Crusade and Christian war on Islam? A commission needed to explore this fact.

How ironic. Mr. working class super sniper smug white boy bites the dust by the sword. When God asks him why he killed 160 people and he says, blind patriotism - plus I am lower class and could not get a decent job in civilian life - don t you think this cracker will have every right to be nervous? It ain t going to fly!

How? Iraq as a country was not threat
to the US in any shape or form; it’s a former close ally, used by the US to
wage war against Iran.. Now thanks to the US, Iraq is a country of chaos
and Iran emboldened, this entire unnecessary war has been a disaster from start
to finish.

A hero for killing 150
Iraqis, during an illegal war started on a lie, carried out purely to enrich
the friends of Bush. Those people he killed were defending their country
against a foreign invader; show me one American patriot who would not have done
exactly the same thing.

So how do you know that God loves killing
for country? Did you find it in the 11th commandment that Moses forgot to write
down? Does it apply to the freedom fighters martyred resisting the foreign
invaders who were all infidels hating the one true God? When do we stop honoring the martyrs for their service? Where does it end, this
God of War? Perhaps less war God and more peace might help.

Thank you for your character and your service in a time when so many Americans despise this country; a country, while imperfect (because it is a reflection of human beings, who are also imperfect), but renders more opportunities to its citizens than any other country in history. I can not imagine the bravery and professionalism it took you to become a Navy Seal. I have viewed the BUDS class tapes on YouTube and the rigor required to make it through is beyond my comprehension. The critics won't understand that you killed to keep us free, and in the hopes that one day other nations will also be free. I understand. God bless you Chris, God bless your family and friends. This is the wrong end for you, but one that must be accepted with the knowledge that you are now in a better place. Rest In Peace for eternity.

A "hero"? For what? For shooting dead 160 Iraqis who did no more than take up arms against a foreign invader? If another country invaded the US, would that make Americans who fight the invader the "bad guys"? Had Chris Kyle put up his hand and said "no" to an illegal and immoral war, refused to be deployed, THEN he would have been a hero.

@Frank_Sturgis So you equate our honorable men and women serving their country and paying the ultimate sacrifice for you to get on here and bad mouth them, with thugs? That line of thought is repugnant, and should make you feel shame at the comfort you enjoy because of their sacrifice, but it probably won't. People who show that level of ignorance are usually too ignorant to feel shame when they are wrong. I have a suggestion for you. In fact, two. First, if you feel they are oppressed and such, and we are thugs, why don't you go live with them, and help them when the thugs come calling. See how that works out for you. Second, if the first is too much like work, how about you find a group of these horrible thugs on their off time, and explain to their face just how they are thugs? Show us how brave and honorable you are. Stand up for your beliefs and your words, instead of hiding behind the internet. Oh how brave you are...

@Frank_Sturgis If you think the members of the military should decide which orders to obey and which orders to ignore, then we live under a nation ruled by the military and not the civilians who were elected by the people. These are fundamentals you should have learned in elementary school.

@KevinWatkins wow, racist much? Military personnel are asked to do a lot of things in service to their country and others. If you pick up a weapon, you are an enemy combatant, and put yourself in harms way. Patriotism and the service of such honorable men and women, is what allows people like you to live free to say ignorant things. If you don't like this country or her defenders, and the life you have because of their sacrifice, you are free to leave at any time. Go try Iraq or Afghanistan. See how grateful you become for the freedoms that smug white boy cracker bought for you. Of course you won't, because just like every ignorant enemy of America, that likes to bite the hand that feeds them, you are a coward.

@AndyMills If you think the members of the military should decide which orders to obey and which orders to ignore, then we live under a nation ruled by the military and not the civilians who were elected by the people. These are fundamentals you should have learned in elementary school.

@AndyMillsYou ungrateful, selfish little boy. The world is unsafe and countries maintain military to fight for their country. The military fights the war the politicians start. Little, little boy, if you are upset, make your voice heard in the political arena, do not disparage the soldier doing his job who is far more of a man and a human being than you will ever be, because he fights for the right of little cowards like you to voice your ignorant, selfish, petty, stupid, uniformed opinions. Grow up.

@SamuelClemens you clearly do not understand either God nor the basic principles of the republic in which we live, but you sure like to enjoy the goodness that comes from them. Sometimes, in order for there to be peace and prosperity, there first must be war. And a soldier who follows any lawful order is considered just. Please if you think this country is so bad, you are free to try out any other you think is better.

So forget your Western way of life and move you & your family to the "suburbs" of Iraq. It is the simple FACT that heros like Chris preserve our way of life, Western Democracy, free speech and the Freedom that comes with it. It is really quite simple... If you don't like our political / military views, move... or grow up and appreciate what these soldiers do for us.

How is AndyMills any of the things you said? YOU are the one who is ignorant and stupid and uninformed! IRAQ was a war started on a LIE. If another country invaded the US, would you not fight back against the invader? Would you not shoot the soldiers of the invading army? This is what Iraqis were doing, fighting the invader. How on earth was Chris Kyle "fighting for our rights"? We have freedom of speech before went into Iraq, and we still have freedom of speech in spite of it. All Western countries have freedom of speech. The last time we justifiably went into a war in which we were actually defending our freedom was World War 2, and that is a very long time ago.

@reinertangle@DarwinAkbar Right, if it wasn't for the military, Saddam would have come over on a boat and told us all what we could say. It's hard to believe that you're intelligent enough to use a computer, yet there is your comment.

Lesroe, if you are a man, forget it, don't bother responding to this. But if you are a woman please let me know as I want to know you better and I want to see more photos of you so I can see what you really look like.

@lesroe@Chard And you are so impossibly stupid that you actually think I am attacking Chris Kyle. Amazing. Please go eat more fast food and watch more television so that one day scientists can study the effects of complacency on your pea brain.

@Chard@lesroe Ahhh, you are so brave attacking a war hero who is one hundred times the man and human being you will ever be. You can go on and on, but everyone already sees that you are of no consequence. Go on and play like a spoiled little boy now.

@lesroe@Chard You got me all wrong. I am so grateful for your childhood learning disabilities as I have been spoiled to death by your severely limited vocabulary. My opportunistic enjoyment of your adorable attempts at ad hominem, however, is admittedly a bit petty...

Lesroe, are you a man or a woman? I am very intrigued looking at your picture. It seems I see a lot of hair all over in your picture; If you are a woman, you must be very hot and very wild. if you are a man, then you look totally terrible and horrible.

@lesroe@Chard No one is interested in your trade school education. Maybe I'm asking for too much from you...forget about the book. Just lose some weight so you can use a real photo of yourself instead of that lion you use to symbolize the power you lack in this world.

Ahhh! You open your feeble little brain to spew more ignorance. So, you suggest that US soldiers, who have been trained with billions of taxpayer dollars, should decide which orders to take from politicians and which to ignore. So if half of the military does not like an order from the current Commander-in-Chief they should ignore it and fundamentally reconstruct the relationship between the President, Congress and the military. Please, pick up your fourth grade Government text book so you can understand how your government works. Fool.

sticks and stones BTW you defend a murderer/terrorist. Remember the only difference between a terrorist and patriot is the governing party .Useless craker could only shoot at defenceless people and GOT SHOT................COWARD!